Author: Minivan News

Court will provide VIP treatment when it sees fit, insists Chief Judge Abdulla

The Criminal Court will provide VIP treatment and escort persons facing trial in and out through the back door in circumstances where it sees fit, Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed has said.

Speaking at a function held on Saturday night (September 13) to celebrate the court’s anniversary, Judge Abdulla reportedly said that the court would allow accused parties to enter through the back door for safety reasons.

“If a court employee has to go an receive such a person, that would be done, too. That is done through the court’s administrative arrangements,” he was quoted as saying in local media.

The remarks followed criticism of the court for providing preferential treatment to MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed in his alcohol possession case.

The leader of the government-aligned Maldives Development Alliance was escorted in and out of the backdoor when he arrived at the court for a trial date and was also seated in a separate area.

Moreover, the chief judge had taken over Siyam’s case in May after the business tycoon requested a change of judge.

Judge Abdulla also criticised the police and state prosecutors for failure to secure convictions as a result of poor planning, insufficient evidence, and glaring inconsistencies between statements submitted by police and witness testimony heard at trial.

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Environment minister meets delegation from Chinese State Oceanic Administration

Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim met a delegation from the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on marine cooperation on oceanographic research.

“This memorandum considers that cooperation on oceanographic research can strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries, and make due contribution to ocean development and conservation as well as social and economic development of both countries and can recognise the role of ocean in climate change, and the common concerns of the parties on oceanographic observation, investigation, scientific research and marine resources’ conservation, management and sustainable uses and wishes to establish closer relations between the marine agencies and personnel of the parties,” the environment ministry explained in a statement.

“The Parties will undertake joint collaborative research activities in the field of oceanography to improve the understanding on the nature of ocean, and strengthen the capability of marine environmental protection, marine hazards mitigation, and adaptation to climate change.”

The MOU was signed at a ceremony held at the President’s Office this morning.

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Research essential for improving health sector, says deputy health minister

Deputy Health Minister Hussain Rasheed has said that proper research is essential for identifying shortcomings and improving the health sector, local media has reported.

Speaking at a research workshop in Nasandhuraa Palace Hotel on Sunday, Rasheed said proper scientific evidence concerning the incidence and spread of diseases in the Maldives, its effects, affected age groups, and obstacles to health service provision in health centres needed to be identified.

“Developments achieved in modern medicine and innovative treatment methods are found out through the hard work of many, and through research,” he was quoted as saying by newspaper Haveeru.

Rasheed also stressed the importance of standardising health sector research proposals as well as capacity building and training for members of the national health research committee.

The five-day workshop is being conducted assistance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for groups interested in health research. The health ministry said the purpose of the workshop is to ensure that research proposals meet the requirements set by the ministry, develop research methodology and skills, and encourage ethical and scientific review.

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Majority of Maldivian jihadists ex-military, claims former President Nasheed

The vast majority of Maldivians jihadists fighting in Syria are former officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), former President Mohamed Nasheed has claimed, warning of the rise of Islamic extremism in the Maldives.

In an interview with the Independent newspaper in the UK during a visit to London, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) president claimed that up to 200 Maldivians were presently fighting in Syria and Iraq.

“Radical Islam is getting very, very strong in the Maldives. Their strength in the military and in the police is very significant,” the opposition leader was quoted as saying in a story that appeared online today.

“They have people in strategic positions within both. Of the 200 people who have gone to jihad, the vast majority are ex-military. What’s happening is they are taking people in for training and they will go away [to fight abroad]. They are using the Maldives military to train their people.”

In May, the MDP claimed that extremist ideologies were prevalent in the security services and that most militants traveling abroad were ex-police and military officers.

The Ministry of Defence and National Security dismissed the allegations at the time as both “baseless and untrue” and intended to “discredit and disparage” the military.

Condemning the MDP’s statement, the defence ministry called upon the opposition party to “stop spreading misinformation in ways that could confuse the public”.

At least four Maldivians have reportedly been killed in the Syrian civil war.

Growing radicalism

Nasheed meanwhile blamed an influx of Saudi Arabian funds for the conservative turn of Maldivian society in recent years and suggested that President Abdulla Yameen might tacitly encourage radicalism.

“President Yameen feels he can deal with the Islamist threat later but first he wants to consolidate power,” Nasheed explained.

“He has the Islamists with him and he can’t do away with them. He would deny that but I don’t see the government taking any measures against the Isis flag being displayed on the street and all the indoctrination going on. They have allowed the military to grow beards.”

“They are very short-sighted. Their thinking is that Islam has a lot of support and you can whip up more [political] support with religion.”

Nasheed warned that the government’s position was untenable.

“If you look at how at how Mosul fell – the top brass ran away because Isis had already infiltrated the rank and file,” Nasheed said.

“I have a feeling that our police and military are already taken. Eventually the Islamists will create havoc in the Maldives. I have no doubt about it.”

However, there was no direct threat to tourists who visit the Maldives, Nasheed said, as the extremists did not want to draw attention to a fertile recruiting ground.

“The government wants the money out of tourism. Everybody wants the money out of that. How the tourists behave on their uninhabited islands is nothing to do with us apparently,” he said.

“They are not worried about the hypocrisy of it. Not all worried – they think it’s very clever, and it is. They have two tracks going. You have your money on one track and then you have religion on another track. They think they have found an excellent model.”

Nasheed also suggested that people were afraid to speak out due to death threats and intimidation.

“They are afraid to talk about it because the minute you mention Isis you get death threats,” he said.

IS

On September 5, a protest march took took place in Malé with participants bearing the Islamic State’s (IS) flag calling for the implementation of Islamic Shariah in the Maldives.

‘We want the laws of the Quran, not the green book [Maldivian constitution]’, ‘Islam will eradicate secularism’, ‘No democracy, we want just Islam’, and ‘Shariah will dominate the world’, read some of the placards carried by protesters.

In late August, Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon condemned “the crimes committed against innocent civilians by the organisation which identifies itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.”

Dunya’s remarks followed Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed’s declaration that the ISIS would not be allowed to operate in the Maldives.

“ISIS is an extremist group. No space will be given for their ideology and activities in the Maldives,” Shaheem tweeted on August 24.

The MDP, however, promptly put out a statement questioning Shaheem’s sincerity, suggesting that the words had not been backed up with concrete action by the government.

A Facebook page called Islamic State in Maldives promoting IS in the country was discovered last month, which shared photos of protests calling for a ban on Israeli tourists where protesters carried the IS flag.

A new site called Haqqu (truth) and Twitter account meanwhile sprang up recently featuring IS-related news as well as Dhivehi translations of a sermon by self-proclaimed Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and other IS publications.

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Civil Court rules customs has authority to confiscate imported goods

The Civil Court has ruled that the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) has the legal authority to confiscate goods imported by companies or individuals with outstanding tax payments to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

In a judgment delivered on Thursday (September 11), the court ruled against a claimant, Fuad Zahir from Mariyammage in Gaaf Alif Kolamaafushi, who contested the custom’s seizure of a shipment imported under his name.

The customs had confiscated the shipment due to unpaid taxes.

The MCS was authorised to take the action under import and export laws as well as the Customs Act, the judge noted, and rejected the claim for compensation of losses incurred due to the confiscation of goods.

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Over 35 sentences not enforced, reveals Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed

Some 37 sentences remain unenforced due to lack of cooperation from the relevant authorities, Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed said at a ceremony held last night to mark the anniversary of the Criminal Court.

Judge Abdulla reportedly criticised police for incomplete investigations and lack of attention to the Constitution and the law.

The Criminal Court also lacks a suitable environment for state prosecutors and witnesses to present testimony, he said.

According to local media, Juvenile Court Chief Judge Mohamed Naeem, also president of the Judges Association, said the Maldivian judiciary is now fully independent and free of undue influences.

Prior to the adoption of the new constitution in 2008 – which separated the judiciary from the executive – Naeem said judges and state attorneys would sometimes sit together to write verdicts.

Judges also delivered verdicts and judgments based on instructions from a committee of the now-defunct justice ministry, he said.

Speaking as chief guest at the event, Naeem said judges at the Criminal Court should be provided adequate security and criticised the Supreme Court for not formulating rules on issuing risk allowances for employees in the judiciary.

Responding to criticism over delays in concluding cases, Naeem said the judiciary’s speed was not slow when the number of judges, staff and resources at its disposal was taken into consideration.

The court’s annual report was released at last night’s event and certificates were awarded to staff at the Criminal Court in recognition of their work.

In March 2011, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) demoted Naeem from the Civil Court to the Juvenile Court as a disciplinary measure. A week later, the JSC appointed Naeem chief judge at the Juvenile Court.

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Warning issued to government in Dharumavantha mosque Friday sermon

A stern warning was issued to the government in an unauthorised Friday sermon delivered at the Dharumavantha mosque in Malé.

According to online news outlet CNM and opposition-aligned private broadcaster Raajje TV, the imam of the independent prayer congregation slammed the government’s efforts to shut down the mosque.

The government was trying to declare “war” against the congregation, the imam said, and prayed for failure of the alleged plans.

A prayer was also offered against the government’s alleged efforts against the “true invitation” and for God to strike fear into the hearts of police and army officers who might rise against the true invitation.

In February this year, the Malé City Council shut down the Dharumavantha mosque at the request of the Islamic Ministry to stop unauthorised Friday prayers by a group described as “extremist” by Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.

Following a notice posted on the mosque announcing that it would be shut down, the independent congregation gathered for prayers the next Friday and prayed for God to destroy the government and for victory against the “irreligious” government which was attempting to obstruct the spreading of Allah’s message and to shut down mosques.

Requesting victory, they also prayed for God to destroy and send his wrath upon military and police officer who implement the government’s orders.

Despite efforts to shut down the mosque, the independent congregation has continued Friday prayers at the mosque.

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Worry over Xi’s trip to Maldives: The Telegraph (Calcutta)

“Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the Maldives tomorrow has set off alarm bells in India’s foreign policy establishment amid worries that the atoll nation may, after a brief hiatus, again be swinging strategically away from New Delhi and closer to Beijing,” writes Charu Sudan Kasturi for the Telegraph.

Xi will be the first Chinese President to travel to the country, when he lands in Male on Sunday with First Lady Peng Liyuan and over 100 businessmen. Xi and his wife, one of China’s best-known singers from the 1980s,will then visit Sri Lanka on Monday before flying to India on Wednesday for a three-day trip.

The Chinese President’s visit to the Maldives comes less than a month after its President, Abdulla Yameen, travelled to Beijing and returned with promises of free financial aid and investments in key infrastructure projects.

Yameen, after his election in November last year, had said strengthening ties with India would be his priority following a bruising two years in bilateral relations, and had sent initial signals that comforted New Delhi.

But away from the public eye, relations between India and the Maldives have once again become testy over the past few months over diplomatic and strategic decisions taken by Yameen that hint at a subtle but growing proximity to China, senior officials have said.

‘We’ve been off the ball a bit on the Maldives, and things are tricky again,’ an official said. ‘The Chinese President’s visit to the Maldives is emblematic of that simmering unease.’ ”

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Addu City Council denies disagreement over stadium lights

The Addu City Council has denied President Abdulla Yameen’s claim that a project to install lights at the Feydhoo stadium was stalled due to disagreements within the council.

Newspaper Haveeru quoted Deputy Mayor Abdulla Thoyyib as saying that contrary to Yameen’s remarks in Feydhoo last week, the project to upgrade stadiums in the southernmost atoll was financed out of the city council’s budget.

The project was awarded to the Hithadhoo Southern Maldives Contracting and Trading Company, Thoyyib explained, and remained stalled due to disagreements among youth in the island.

Four youth associations met the council last month and presented plans for installing the lights, he added.

Final preparations were underway to install the lights in accordance with the wishes of the youth groups, Thoyyib said.

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